Why Your AI Art Isn't Selling (and never will)

Brad Colbow
19 Jun 202308:18

TLDRThe video discusses the unrealistic expectations of making money with AI-generated content, such as art and books. It highlights the case of a Sci-Fi author who used AI to write 97 books, earning a mere $2.94 per hour. The speaker shares a personal story about the pitfalls of relying on print-on-demand services like Merch by Amazon, where a lack of barriers to entry led to market saturation and a race to the bottom in terms of quality and earnings. The video emphasizes the importance of building a strong personal brand and creating high-quality, unique content that resonates with an audience, rather than simply trying to capitalize on existing brands or trends. It concludes with a reminder that technology will always evolve, but the value lies in creating something that people genuinely want.

Takeaways

  • 📈 **Building a Brand**: Focus on creating a brand rather than just a product. Your brand is the sum of every experience people have with you.
  • 💰 **Realistic Goals**: Making money using AI is not a realistic goal for most. The market is saturated, and it's not a get-rich-quick scheme.
  • ⏱️ **Time Investment**: Writing a book using AI may take little time, but building a brand and a successful business takes years of consistent effort.
  • 🚫 **Avoiding Spam**: Do not rely on spam tactics or infringing on copyrights to make money. This will lead to de-prioritization and loss of revenue.
  • 🎨 **Art and Authenticity**: People buy art not just because it's visually appealing, but because they connect with the artist's story and authenticity.
  • 📚 **Content Quality**: The quantity of content produced using AI may increase, but the quality is likely to decrease, leading to a market flooded with low-quality products.
  • 🤝 **Licensing and Partnerships**: Successful businesses often involve partnerships and licensing deals with established brands to build credibility.
  • 🧩 **Market Saturation**: The more people use AI to create content, the more saturated the market becomes, reducing the value of individual works.
  • 🎓 **Education and Skill**: Learning the craft and showing the process can build a following and create a brand that people want to support.
  • 🛍️ **E-commerce Platforms**: Utilize platforms like Squarespace to build an online store and sell products, leveraging analytics to grow the business.
  • 📉 **Barriers to Entry**: Low barriers to entry in markets like print on demand can lead to an influx of low-quality products and reduced profitability.

Q & A

  • What is the main message of the video regarding AI and making money?

    -The main message is that making a lot of money using AI is not a realistic goal and that people are approaching it in the wrong way by trying to leverage AI for quick gains without building a sustainable brand.

  • What example is given in the video to illustrate the saturation of the market?

    -The video uses the example of a Sci-Fi author who has written 97 books using chat GPT and made nearly two thousand dollars, which equates to a very low hourly wage.

  • How did the speaker's experience at a conference about designing t-shirts influence their career?

    -The speaker realized the importance of building their own brand instead of coasting on other people's brands. They learned that it's crucial to create unique and valuable content that resonates with the audience.

  • What was the issue with the print on demand service by Amazon when it opened up to the public?

    -The issue was that there was no barrier to entry, leading to an influx of people trying to make money by uploading t-shirts with designs that often infringed on copyrights or were low-quality, which diluted the market and reduced the earnings of those participating.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the future of content created using AI?

    -The speaker predicts that the amount of content created using AI will skyrocket, but most of it will be of poor quality, leading to a saturated and low-value market.

  • What does the speaker suggest is the key to building a successful brand?

    -The speaker suggests that a successful brand is built on the cumulative experiences people have with the content, work, art, and products. It involves creating something that people genuinely want and connecting with them on a deeper level.

  • How does the speaker relate the success of the Mario movie to brand building?

    -The speaker relates the success of the Mario movie to the strong brand that Nintendo had built over the years. People's positive experiences with Nintendo led to high expectations and a willingness to support the brand's content, even if the movie itself was not critically acclaimed.

  • What is the speaker's view on using AI to create a large volume of content quickly?

    -The speaker is critical of this approach, arguing that it does not contribute to building a meaningful brand. Instead, they advocate for creating content that provides value and resonates with the audience, even if it takes more time and effort.

  • What is the role of Squarespace in the video?

    -Squarespace is the sponsor of the video. It is presented as an all-in-one platform for building a brand and growing a business online, with tools for creating websites, online stores, and handling payments and analytics.

  • How does the video address the issue of copyright in the context of AI-generated content?

    -While the video does not delve deeply into copyright issues, it implies that there are concerns with using AI to create content that may infringe on existing copyrights, as seen with the t-shirt designs on Amazon.

  • What advice does the speaker give to artists and authors who are just starting out?

    -The speaker advises new artists and authors to focus on building a personal brand and creating high-quality, unique content that offers value to their audience. They should share their process and story to connect with people, which is often more important than the art or content itself.

  • How does the speaker describe the evolution of technology in relation to creating work?

    -The speaker acknowledges that technology, such as AI, print on demand, web, smartphones, and even the printing press, is always changing. However, they emphasize that the underlying value lies in creating something that people actually want, regardless of the technology used.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Pitfalls of AI-Generated Content for Quick Profits

The first paragraph discusses the unrealistic expectations people have when trying to make money using AI, particularly in the context of content creation. It highlights the case of a Sci-Fi author who has written 97 books with the help of AI and earned nearly two thousand dollars, but upon closer inspection, the hourly rate is quite low. The speaker warns against the allure of AI as a get-rich-quick scheme and shares a personal anecdote about the pitfalls of relying on other people's brands for profit, as seen with the Merch by Amazon service. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of building one's own brand and creating valuable, authentic experiences for consumers.

05:01

🎨 Building a Lasting Brand Over Quick Profits

The second paragraph focuses on the importance of brand building as a long-term strategy for success, rather than seeking immediate financial gains through AI-generated content. It discusses how the value of a product or content is tied to the brand's reputation and the experiences it provides. The speaker uses Nintendo as an example of a strong brand built on consistent positive experiences. They argue that creating a brand involves more than just a logo or product; it's about the cumulative experiences people have with the brand. The paragraph also touches on the speaker's personal brand journey and the gradual process of building trust and authenticity with their audience. It concludes with a reminder that technology will always evolve, but the desire for quality and meaningful content remains constant.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI Art

AI Art refers to the creative works generated with the help of artificial intelligence. In the context of the video, it discusses the challenges of selling AI-generated art due to market saturation and the lack of personal brand attached to such works. The video emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand and the human touch in art, which AI-generated pieces often lack.

💡Squarespace

Squarespace is an all-in-one platform for building websites and online stores. It is mentioned in the video as a sponsor and is highlighted for its ability to help users build their brand online by offering tools to create a professional website and sell products or services. It is used as an example of a platform that can be utilized to grow a business and establish a brand presence.

💡Chat GPT

Chat GPT is a type of AI technology used for generating human-like text based on given prompts. The video references a Sci-Fi author who has written 97 books using Chat GPT, which raises questions about the quality and originality of content produced by AI. It is used to illustrate the ease with which AI can produce content but also to point out the low value of such content in terms of personal brand building.

💡Brand Building

Brand building is the process of creating a unique identity for a product, service, or individual in the minds of consumers. The video stresses that simply using AI to create and sell products without a strong brand behind them is not a sustainable business strategy. A brand is more than just a logo; it encompasses the totality of a customer's experiences, which includes the quality of the content, the work, and the products offered.

💡Print on Demand

Print on Demand (PoD) is a service used by Amazon and other platforms where products, such as t-shirts, are only produced when a customer orders them, eliminating the need for inventory. The video uses PoD as an example of a business model that was initially lucrative but became oversaturated, leading to a decrease in profitability. It serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of entering markets with low barriers to entry.

💡Merchandising

Merchandising refers to the process of promoting and selling goods, often through strategic product placement and design. In the video, the discussion around Merch by Amazon highlights how entrepreneurs used the platform to sell designed products without the upfront costs of inventory or printing. However, the video also points out the pitfalls of this approach, such as copyright infringement and the eventual de-prioritization of PoD content by Amazon.

💡Market Saturation

Market saturation occurs when there is an oversupply of a product or service in the market, leading to increased competition and reduced profitability. The video discusses how the use of AI to create books, art, and other products can quickly lead to market saturation, making it difficult for individual creators to stand out and sell their work at a profit.

💡Content Quality

Content quality refers to the standard or value of the material being produced. The video argues that the ease with which AI can generate content may lead to a flood of low-quality content, which devalues the overall market. It contrasts this with the creation of high-quality, original content that adds value to an artist's or author's brand.

💡Earning Potential

Earning potential refers to the amount of income that can be generated from a particular activity or venture. The video challenges the notion that using AI to create and sell products is a lucrative endeavor, pointing out that the reality is often much less profitable due to market saturation and the lack of personal investment in the product.

💡Copyright

Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution. The video touches on the issue of copyright in the context of AI-generated content, suggesting that some creators may be producing works that infringe on existing copyrights, which can lead to legal issues and devaluation of the content.

💡Personal Investment

Personal investment refers to the time, effort, and resources that an individual puts into a project or business. The video emphasizes that successful brands and products often result from significant personal investment, as opposed to simply relying on AI to generate content. It suggests that a hands-on approach and a focus on quality are more likely to result in a sustainable and profitable business.

Highlights

The video discusses the unrealistic expectations of making money using AI in art and literature.

A Sci-Fi author has written 97 books using chat GPT and earned nearly two thousand dollars.

The author's earnings equate to approximately 2.94 cents per hour for the time invested in writing.

The video warns against the misconception that AI can be a shortcut to wealth, emphasizing the importance of building a brand.

A case study of Merch by Amazon's print-on-demand service and its impact on the market is presented.

The saturation of the market with print-on-demand products led to de-prioritization and reduced earnings for sellers.

Successful sellers on Amazon invested in hiring real designers and securing licensing deals with established brands.

The importance of creating a unique brand identity is emphasized over leveraging other people's brands.

Building a brand involves creating a series of positive experiences associated with the creator's work.

The video predicts a future where AI-generated content will skyrocket, but warns that much of it will be of low quality.

The value of a brand is in the experiences it provides, not just its logo or visual representation.

The success of the Mario movie is attributed to the strong brand experience built over 40 years.

The video encourages creators to focus on the quality and experience of their content rather than quantity.

Artists who share their process and build a connection with their audience can achieve success through conventions and social media.

The video suggests that people buy art not just for its aesthetic value, but also to support the artist's story.

AI and technology are tools that will always be changing, but it's the value and desire for the work that remains constant.

The video is sponsored by Squarespace, a platform for building websites and selling products online.

Squarespace offers tools for seamless checkout, analytics, and building an online store for various types of products.